MLB Pipeline’s 2021 Top 100 Prospects list is now live, with 19-year-old Wander Franco of the Rays being named MLB’s top prospect for a second straight year. The switch-hitting shortstop is one of eight Tampa Bay players on the brand-new list, which features some familiar names and plenty of fresh
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Franco spent 2020 at the alternate site and then played just five games for Escogido in the Dominican Winter League before he was shut down due to biceps soreness, which had clearly effected his throwing, as he short-hopped several throws to first base on routine plays. It’s not expected to be a long-term issue, and Franco himself wanted to rest and return to action for Escogido (the left side of los Leones infield would have been him and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.), but the Rays prevented it as a precaution. I suppose there’s some chance that this issue, combined with the presence of other good shortstops in the org like Willy Adames and Taylor Walls (assuming either or both aren’t traded) creates a heightened chance that Franco debuts in the big leagues as a second baseman, but even if we knew that was going to be the case, he’d still easily be the best prospect in baseball.
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The rumor de jour this last weekend centered on Reds pitcher Luis Castillo and the Yankees. After the Yankees made good on their first rumored targets, DJ LeMahieu and Corey Kluber, it seemed eminently possible that they’d follow through on the latest whispers.
Talk has died down, particularly at the report that the Reds asked for Gleyber Torres, and potentially more, in exchange for Castillo. As I said in Monday’s writeup of the news, moving Torres for Castillo is a likely nonstarter from the Yankees’ perspective, at least in terms of pure value. The two both project as roughly four-win players in 2021 per FanGraphs’ calculations, but Torres is younger, further from free agency, and plays a less risky position. Any Torres-for-Castillo deal should involve extra talent coming the
Why haven’t the Cubs signed this guy yet, Part 4: Chris Archer
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The Cubs acquired Chris Archer from the Indians (along with Jeff Stevens) December 31, 2008, in exchange for Mark DeRosa.
In 2010, he was the Cubs’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year after posting a 2.34 ERA and 1.173 WHIP in 28 appearances (27 starts) combined between Advanced-A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee.
And then the Cubs traded him away, along with Sam Fuld, Hak-Ju Lee, Robinson Chirinos and Brandon Guyer, to the Rays for Matt Garza, Zac Rosscup and Fernando Perez.
This isn’t to lament that deal, because Garza was eventually sent to the Rangers for Justin Grimm, Carl Edwards Jr., Neil Ramirez and Mike Olt, and the first two of those were key parts of the Cubs’ 2016 World Series team.
2021 DRaysBay Community Prospect List special election: Carlos Colmenarez
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Previous winner
3B Kevin Padlo (R/R, 6’2 205, 24 in 2021)
2019 statistics with Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham: 432 PA, .265/.389/.538, 21 HR, 53 XBH, 12/16 SB, 15.7 BB%, 26.9 K%
Padlo broke a hamate bone in 2017, and it took him until the 2019 season to get back on track. He’s always had power potential, and he started showing it in games. His average wasn’t bad, and he posted a high walk rate. He’s a good defender at third base and has spent time at both first base and second base, which he was able to do with his athleticism. He was at points on the team’s taxi squad in 2020 but didn’t appear in any games.